Iraq – Anglican Relief and Development Fundhttp://ardf.org
Powerful Partnerships Transforming Our WorldSun, 18 Mar 2018 14:44:46 +0000en-UShourly1Iraqi Christian Relief Update – Archdeacon in the Gulf Visithttp://ardf.org/iraqi-christian-relief-update-archdeacon-in-the-gulf-visit/
http://ardf.org/iraqi-christian-relief-update-archdeacon-in-the-gulf-visit/#respondMon, 19 Oct 2015 17:30:46 +0000http://ardf.dreamhosters.com/?p=4593The following update is from The Venerable Canon Bill Schwartz, OBE, the Archdeacon in the Gulf of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, after a visit to Baghdad. Many thanks to Archdeacon Schwartz for sharing this! Fr. Faiz [Jerjez] took us to a newly constructed camp for displace people who had made their way to Baghdad […]

The following update is from The Venerable Canon Bill Schwartz, OBE, the Archdeacon in the Gulf of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, after a visit to Baghdad. Many thanks to Archdeacon Schwartz for sharing this!

Fr. Faiz [Jerjez] took us to a newly constructed camp for displace people who had made their way to Baghdad and had been sleeping in churches, schools and abandoned buildings since last summer. The camp is well constructed by the inter-church group (headed by the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Sako) and the ARDF money was used along with other funding to construct this camp. It has 140 caravans (about 21 square meters each: two rooms with a toilet. There is plumbing for a kitchen in one of the rooms.) The “mayor” of the camp estimates 130 families / 630 people live in the camp.

There is work needed before winter rains come. The inter-church committee provides food. Medical care seems adequately organized. The government has hooked up electricity from the grid and provides some diesel for the generator that is used when the grid is down — but there was strong emphasis that the provision of diesel is inadequate for the supply needed to cover the amount of time that the grid is down. They are asking for winter clothing for the children in particular but I would emphasize that clothing is available. There is a need for funding to purchase the clothing. The “mayor” was frank about the need for supervision in providing money or goods to individuals that could be turned around and sold, saying that some would be pleased to use relief resources for alcohol, cigarettes, and other vices. That’s one of the reasons we insist that the funds are managed through the church, clergy, and lay teams who work at the camp. They know the people and can monitor how the people use the funds donated to them. We identified a couple of projects that could be managed directly by St. George’s so that the funds are accountable. We’ll be investigating those potentials over the coming weeks.

In my perception the long-term problem is unemployment. The refugees can get everything they need if they have money, but they don’t have jobs. Many have marketable skills but no capital for start-up, having lost everything when they fled from the Da’esh fighters. We would like to start up a preschool in the camp which would both provide jobs for some of the refugees to work there, and free up some of the mothers who could find employment if only they could find good care for their children when they would be away at work. The idea is that only children of working mothers would be accepted into the school. I would like to work with the interchurch committee to fund and supervise more projects like this. I found that some of the church leaders I spoke with were very receptive to the idea. There is another idea of converting a derelict building on the periphery of the camp into a small supermarket which would provide jobs and a great benefit among those in the camp who don’t have transportation to visit the shops in town….

There are many church groups and NGO’s working with the larger camps for displaced people in Erbil and Dohuk and places in the Kurdish area. That’s partly because it is easier and it is perceived by Westerners to be safer to work there. To my knowledge there are no NGOs working with this camp in Baghdad. It is entirely supported through the inter-church work (and subsidies from the government). Much can be done, andFr. Faiz Jerjez, our Anglican priest there, is a very good person to work with.

]]>http://ardf.org/iraqi-christian-relief-update-archdeacon-in-the-gulf-visit/feed/0Impact Report: How Your Generosity is Helping Christians in Iraqhttp://ardf.org/impact-report-relief-iraqi-christians/
http://ardf.org/impact-report-relief-iraqi-christians/#respondFri, 19 Sep 2014 14:39:39 +0000http://ardf.dreamhosters.com/?p=3675Last month, ARDF issued an appeal on behalf of Christians suffering displacement and persecution in Iraq—the response was overwhelming. To date, we have raised over $70,000 for urgent relief thanks to the incredible generosity of Anglicans here in North America. Our Impact: These urgently needed relief funds are already making a huge difference for our brothers […]

Our Impact:

These urgently needed relief funds are already making a huge difference for our brothers and sisters in Iraq. ARDF is coordinating with the Diocese of Egypt and the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East to support direct relief efforts in northern Iraq in partnership with Christians on the ground who are providing urgently needed food, clothing, blankets, and medicine to displaced Iraqi Christians.

For security reasons, ARDF has decided not to release specific information about the organizations directly involved in the relief effort, but we wish to assure our donors that all gifts are supporting trusted local partners who are working directly with those in need.

The incredible response we received demonstrates the faith and commitment of Anglicans here in North America and serves as a powerful example of ARDF’s partnership-based development approach. By working with local churches, we have been able to respond directly to this crisis in a manner that is uniquely effective and efficient.

Ongoing Need:

The need in Iraq is still great, and we welcome your continued prayers and support for this relief effort.

Even a small gift can have a huge impact. Please help us provide food, clothing, medicine, and blankets to those in need. Read the original appeal.

]]>http://ardf.org/impact-report-relief-iraqi-christians/feed/0How you can help Iraqi Christianshttp://ardf.org/help-iraqi-christians/
http://ardf.org/help-iraqi-christians/#respondThu, 14 Aug 2014 18:44:50 +0000http://ardf.dreamhosters.com/?p=3493// Donate Now // Canadians are encouraged to donate to The Anglican Relief and Development Fund-Canada to receive a receipt for Canadian Tax Purposes. Relief Updates: 1. Iraqi Christian Relief Update — Archdeacon in the Gulf Visit (Oct. 2015) Christians in Iraq have suffered terribly over the last months. Archbishop Foley Beach described the situation in a […]

Relief Updates:

Christians in Iraq have suffered terribly over the last months. Archbishop Foley Beach described the situation in a recent statement:

In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of believers have fled their homes, reducing the Christian population to a quarter of the size it was in 1990. Many took refuge in Syria or Lebanon, while others are internally displaced in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, which once provided relative peace and stability. But Iraqi Christian refugees are no longer safe in Syria, as anti-Christian violence threatens all Christians in the country, while Iraqi Kurdistan is now also seeing escalating tensions; Christians also struggle to find work to support themselves there. Recent events in Mosul have seen the city’s Christian population totally exterminated by murder or the evacuation of Christians.

What can you do to help?

Pray

First, please join us in praying for our brothers and sisters suffering displacement and persecution in Iraq. Cry out to God for an end to the violence, comfort for families who have lost loved ones, and hope for those whose lives have been shattered by this conflict. Archbishop Beach offers these suggested prayers,

Heavenly Father, we bring before you today the people of Syria and Iraq, asking you to be their defender and help in their time of need. Walk with them in their suffering and loss, and give them strength to face the days ahead. We pray for release of the captives and freedom for those held hostage. We pray for your intervention against the violence and evil against your people. We pray for your provision for the hungry, the homeless, and the bereaved. We pray for you to help your people who are called by your Name, Jesus’ Name, and it is in His Name we ask these things. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer:

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us tolove our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice totruth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Edited from the Book of Common Prayer:

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples ofthe earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace tothose who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, especially in Syria and Iraq; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Give

Second, consider making a donation to one of the many organizations offering help to refugees.